Baripada/Angul: Local people on Tuesday stalled the shifting of two trained elephants from the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) to Satkosia in Angul.
On the other hand, members of 27 families, who have been left out from the compensation package for relocation from Raigoda village located in the core area of the Satkosia tiger reserve lodged their protest.
The local people obstructed the shifting of elephants, alleging that the animals were not trained to monitor tigers.
The elephants to be shifted to Satkosia are Mahendra and Rajkumar of 56 and 15 years old, respectively.
Wildlife activist Bhanumitra Acharya said: "Mahendra is too old, while Rajkuamar is too young to be engaged in monitoring tigers in Satkosia. Further they are not trained for such jobs. Moreover, who will do their job in their absence?"
"So far I know these elephants were brought from Karnataka. But it is best known to the authorities why they are shifting them instead of procuring more elephants from Karnataka," said Acharya.
On the other hand, the STR authorities said the shifting was done on the direction of the state's chief wildlife warden and the two elephants would return after three to four months.
Similipal Tiger Reserve deputy director J.D. Pati said: "Both the elephants do monsoon patrolling and entertain tourists. They will come back after three to four months. They would be engaged in the intensive tiger monitoring. They would monitor tigers with radio collar."
Though the shifting could not be carried out due to the protest, it would however be done within a day or two, said Pati.
In another development, the Raigoda villagers staged protest against the forest department and the district administration.
Sarat Mukhi, a villager, said: "We used to have agricultural land and Indira Awas houses at the village. These have been acquired by the authorities without any compensation and packages. Though we have land at the villages, we stay outside for work and study of our children. That does not mean that we are not Raigoda villagers and will be excluded from all sorts of benefits of relocation. If the authorities cannot give anything, they should return our land."
Raigoda, which was in the core area, has been relocated to nearby Saruali in Satkosia with a relocation package of Rs 10 lakh each.
The left-out families on Monday stormed into Angul and staged dharna in front of the district collector's office, demanding relief.
Satkosia dvisional forest officer S.M.T. Rahman said: "They are practically outsiders and do not stay at the village. They did not attend the palli sabha called for the consent of the villagers. They are not eligible for the package for relocation, but their land compensation will be paid to them in due course."
